⚽ Liverpool’s £116m Signing Florian Wirtz Linked with Surprise Real Madrid Loan as Emmanuel Petit Delivers Honest Verdict
Liverpool’s record-breaking summer signing Florian Wirtz is reportedly attracting unexpected attention from Real Madrid, with former French international Emmanuel Petit claiming that a January loan move could be on the cards after a slow start to life at Anfield.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for around £116 million, has yet to register a goal or assist in his opening games under Arne Slot. While flashes of creativity have been evident, his final-third decision-making has often been inconsistent, prompting debate over how quickly he can adapt to the Premier League’s intensity.
Petit, speaking to Boyle Sports, suggested that Wirtz could even be reunited with his former Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso — but this time in Madrid.
“I heard that Xabi Alonso wants Real Madrid to keep an eye on Florian Wirtz ahead of a possible loan in January — that’s how much he respects him as a player,” Petit revealed.
“Alonso knows his quality, and many in Germany have defended him. Wirtz himself has said he isn’t panicking. He believes his talent will shine through eventually, and I hope for his sake that’s true — because if not, it will be very difficult for him to cope with the pressure and criticism.”
With expectations sky-high and a nine-figure transfer fee weighing on his shoulders, some have already begun to question whether Wirtz could become one of Liverpool’s most expensive mistakes. Petit, however, urged patience — highlighting the significant difference between playing in the Bundesliga and adapting to the demands of English football.
“Honestly, I have no idea yet if he’ll be a flop because Liverpool and Leverkusen play very differently,” Petit explained.
“He needs time to adapt. The Premier League is much faster — you have no time to think on the ball, and you must react quickly. It’s also more physical; opponents challenge you constantly.
“In La Liga, it’s more technical and you get more time to play, which might suit him better.”
Petit also questioned whether Wirtz might have been better off joining Bayern Munich, who were reportedly interested before the German star chose Liverpool.
“I wonder if Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was right when he said Bayern wanted Wirtz but he chose Liverpool. Moving to a new country and a completely different style of football isn’t easy,” Petit added.
“Maybe it would have been better to go to Bayern, where they know how to manage top young players. But we’ll see — maybe I’m wrong.”
Despite the criticism, Petit insisted that Wirtz’s potential remains undeniable.
“He’s still only 22 and has already achieved great things with Leverkusen and the national team,” he said. “The question is whether that’s enough to take the next step with Liverpool. Time will tell.”
For now, Liverpool fans remain hopeful that Wirtz will rediscover the brilliance that made him one of Europe’s most sought-after midfielders — and that Anfield, not Madrid, will be the stage where he proves his worth.
